Handhold for bathtubs



April 23, 1935. J. R, Q c 1 998987 HANDHOLD FOR BATHTUBS Filed July 2, 1934 J E fiNVENTOfQ Q QJMQEz A/ ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 23, 1935 UNITED ,STATES PATENT OFFICEQ HANDHOLD FOR. BATHTUBS John R. Francis, Rochester, N. Y. Application'July 2, 1934, Serial No. 73337 6 4 Claims. (Cl. 4-125) The object of this invention is to provide a handhold for the rim and sides of a bathtub. This handhold is made as an article of manufacture, and is made and sold separately and applied to the rim of a bathtub, the object being to make it so that it can be applied to a bathtub with any type of rim, and so that it can be securely fastened to the rim and aiford to the hand a much better hold on the tub than do the rim and sides of the tub itself.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means of fastening it to the tub.

These and other objects of the invention will be illustrated in the drawing, described in the 5 specification, and pointed out in the claims at the end thereof. In the drawing: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the tub, showing my handhold in place on the rim thereof. Figure 2 is a side elevation of the handhold on an enlarged scale.

Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line 3w3cr of Figure 2, looking in the direction ofthe arrows, the handhold being shown in place on the rim 5 of a tub with legs, or an open-rim tub.

Figure, 4 shows the same kind of a handhold applied to a built-in tub, or a tub having a closed mm.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view on the line 5a:5:r of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a detail view of one of the fibre discs which are fastened on the handhold.

Figure 7 is a sectional view on the line l$1a:

5 of Figure 5.

In the drawing like reference numerals indicate like parts.

In the drawing reference numeral I indicates a bathtub having an open roll-top rim 2. 3 indigo cates a handhold which is applied to this rim and the adjacent side of the tub. This handhold comprises a sheet 4 of sponge rubber, which is substantially square in the blank from which it is made. 5 indicates a form made of fibre, which is narrow at the midportion or yoke 5 and spreads out at the lower end i on each side, as indicated in Figure 5. Between this fibre form and the sheet of sponge rubberis placed a U-shaped metal strap 8, which is indicated by dotted line in Figure 5. The metal strap and fibre form are joined together by the rivets 9 and It.

On the bottom outer edges of the handhold on each side thereof is placed a metal or fibre strap ll. Screws l2, l3 and I4 pass through the holes in this strap, and through the sheet of sponge rubber, and through the fibre form 5. The ends of these screws are threadedinto nuts l5, which nuts are surrounded by rubber washers l6. These washers and nuts are covered over with soft rubber discs H, which present a smooth, soft, elastic surface to the rim and side of the tub.

The handhold so made is shown in place on a tub in Figure 4, which tub has a closed rim, so that the rubber washers l1 engage directly with' the-rim of the tub on both sides of the wall of the tub. The texture of the rubber discs I! enables the handhold to take a firm grip on the rim and sides of the tub,so,that thehandhold is held securely in place thereon.

The leaf 2! is turned up at the bottom. to form a sleeve in which the end of the brace l8 can engage, so that the brace can swing therein. The

free end of the brace is turned up and then is bent forward and down, so as topresent a long bearing surface'to the exposed side of the tub, as shown in Figure 3. When the handhold has been applied to the tub as shown in Figure 3, and the brace I8 is turned to the position shown in Figside thereof is fastened the discs 25 and 26 which bear directly on the top of the rim. These discs takea good suction hold on the rim, just asdo the discs ll take a hold on the side of the tub and help to hold the rim in place and keep it from slipping.

The metal strap 8 and yoke or middle portion of the fibre form causes the sheet of rubber to bulge up in the middle. This removes the fibre form completely from contact with the tub, so that contact with the tub is made only on the rubber discs ll and the rubber discs 25 and 26. In this way scratching of the tub is prevented,

In Figure 6 I have shown the rubber washers it with staples 3i], 3! passing through and engaging with the fibre brace 5, by which the washers are securely joined thereto.

I claim: V

1. In a handhold for therim and sides ofa bathtub, the combination of a rubber pad bent to the form of a channel having parallel sides and an intermediate curved portion, a form attached thereto on the under side thereof, said form being of stiff material and being shaped in section like an inverted U and having wide parallel portions at the lower ends thereof, and a metal strip inserted between the form and the pad, said strip having the shape of an inverted U.

2. In a handheld for the rim and sides of a bathtub, the combination of a rubber pad bent to the form of a channel having parallel sides and an intermediate curved portion, a form attached thereto on the under side thereof, said form being of stifi material and being shaped in section like an an inverted U and having wide parallel portions at the lower ends thereof, a metal strap on the outside of said pad near the lower edge thereof, bolts and nuts connecting the strap and pad and form together, washers surrounding said nuts on the inside, and rubber discs covering said nuts and washers, said discs being adapted to bear against the tub.

3. In a handhold for the rim and sides of a bathtub, the combination of a rubber pad bent to the form of a channel having parallel sides and an intermediate curved portion, a form attached thereto on the under side thereof, said form being of stifi material and being shaped in section like an inverted U and having wide parallel portions at the lower ends thereof, a metal strap inserted between the form and the pad, said strap having the shape of an inverted U, the intermediate portion of the form and of the strap being raised out of line with the end portions of the pad, and rubber discs placed centrally on the end concave portions of the rubber pad, said discs being adapted to make contact with the top of the rim of the tub.

4. In a handhold for the rim and sides of a bathtub, the combination of a rubber pad bent to the form of a channel having parallel sides and an intermediate curved portion, a form attached thereto on the under side thereof, said form being'. of sti-fi material and being shaped in section like an inverted U and having wide parallel portions at the lower ends thereof, and a brace hinged to the lower edge of the form on one side and adapted to project under the rim of the tub and engage the side of the tub on the outside to clamp the side of the tub between the end of the brace and a lower end of the form.

' JOHN R. FRANCIS. 

